Trainer: Caroline Jeanne
Day One - Dressage
Warmed up in tiny area of arena about 20m x 15m so couldn't do much but he was soft and chilled and all felt nice. Went into the arena and he had a flid about the mirrors and banners - rearing, spinning etc. Worked him past them and he settled down nicely. Ran through BE95 - the arena wasn't symmetrically marked out so half circles were wonky, canter was a bit flat and the final halt was terrible as he was spooking at the trainer standing at C. She said it was very straight though. Generally it was perfectly acceptable test for how he is right now. He is a bit on the forehand still since coming back into work - just needs to gain more strength behind. Trainer said I was losing him through the shoulders a bit so need to make sure not too much inside bend. She really liked his FWLR.
Then we had a mini lesson. Did some trot leg yield in and out on a circle then same in canter. Mustn't let him fall out through shoulder. Then worked on canter squares which worked really well to get him sitting better behind and then moved the canter on on back on a 20m circle and it was hugely improved - big, up and forwards. Very nice. Walk to canter must not hang onto the inside rein as blocks him. Walk after FWLR - make sure pick him back up again properly and not let him stay too long and down.
Day One - Gallops work
In the afternoon we worked on the gallops with a stopwatch. They had markers for BE90/100 minute markers and cones to simulate jumps. Had to imagine cones were jumps, set up then ride forwards afterwards. Both times made BE100 speed easily although did have to use fair bit of leg to keep him going 2nd time. He is still lacking fitness a bit but that was 6mins galloping with a fair old break in between so not too bothered at this stage.
Day Two - Show Jumping
Came out of stable this morning with seriously filled front legs so took him for a long walk and some hand grazing before our lesson mid morning. Warmed up over x-pole then upright then oxer about 85cm and he popped them all sweetly. Concentrated on the canter and getting him into outside rein. Just got told to make sure wasn't driving him into it - sit lightly. Then moved onto a 2 stride double which he did no probs. Then a small 1 stride double of uprights on 7 instead of 8 strides (she said should keep distances shorter when training as they're not so fired up so makes it easier for them). He didn't lock onto it and had clearly gone to sleep, chucked in a short stride, scrambled over the first part, went to put in 2 strides, couldn't quite fit in a 2nd so stopped, slid into the jump, backed off rapidly then spun and I hit the deck. Landed quite hard on my right shoulder (as per usual whenever I fall off!) but lived to carry on.
Straight back through the double again having seriously woken him up, pissed him off by tapping him on the bum but he was fired up and into my hand and felt much better and flew through it no probs. Moved onto a 4 stride related distance oxer to upright and camera man had set up a remote controlled camera on 2nd fence which went off 5 times as we went over it and he shot off on landing! He had the oxer down as just a bit disorganised round corner but otherwise jumped a course of about 90cm really nicely and trainer said she couldn't say anything bad about it and loved how he was jumping. Didn't see any duff strides, held and pushed ever so slightly where needed but generally met things right. Really pleased with him although didn't jump anything at all over our comfort zone of 90cm but not bad thing given the fall.
Day Two - XC
Front legs still somewhat filled despite the jumping in the morning. Ground on XC was harder than I would have liked so didn't want to be doing loads but most jumps had artificial nice soft landings so was only the bits in between to worry about. He didn't feel overly enthusiastic about having to do more work. Tried to wake him up round the field but he wasn't really taking me. Started with popping over 3 tiny jumps I wouldn't normally even look at and he didn't pay them much attention. He then popped up and down the small steps really well, happy to jump off steps. Then popped over a 3ft tyres/log combo he's done before and got in deep but then jumped well over the baby trakehner, followed by a house but then a bit sticky over the Haygain feeder fence so came round to jump the tyres/log combo again, saw a perfect forward stride and he chipped in, almost stopped and clambered over it - not like him but shadows on the ground so wondered if just that. Moved on to a small corner which he popped like a pro. Then did a step down with a small log on takeoff followed by a skinny log on a slight left bend then back round, up the big step/log and 4 good strides to a big skinny roll-top which he just flew no probs.
Then we had a rearing fit about leaving the group and doing the sunken road but once sorted he flew down there, left turn over a small hanging log then tight right to another hanging log and onwards to the rolltop under the rugby posts which he has done before so wasn't overly riding it as no reason to assume he wouldn't jump it and at the last minute he slammed on the brakes and slid into the bottom of it. Totally out of character and took me completely by surprise :( Jumped it fine 2nd time so put it down to one off. Went and played with the water. He really really wanted a drink so wonder whether he didn't drink much in stable last night out of auto waterer as wouldn't normally want to drink in a water jump - always struggle getting him to drink whenever I take him anywhere. Cantered through water no probs and out over hippo. He happily went down step and through water but was seriously sticky jumping up step out but then stayed straight and locked onto little brush 2strides later.
Then he was stood with group while other horse practised the ditch. She then asked me to go through coffin going away from the group. Got decent canter, saw absolutely perfect stride to the first part (skinny palisade sort of BE100 height), put my leg on for it and last minute he just slammed on the anchors again, totally skidded into it, jumped back and fortunately stayed straight but started rearing as my balance was off so was pulling on his mouth. Fortunately he decided to calm as could easily have pulled him over backwards if he'd gone up any higher. Really no idea what was upsetting him. Went off again and jumped just the ditch to the brush and he didn't look at either so wasn't that, came back round and jumped all 3 finishing with the palisade and then turned round again and all 3 the original way and he was fine, if not as nice and forwards as he can be. Had another rest while the others did it then switched him back on and did a little boomerang shaped skinny - he locked on, saw a nice stride and popped it. I finished there with him while the others did the steps down to skinny and the big trakehners - didn't fancy the sliding stop into a trakehner :(
Absolutely gutted as he never ever stops. I seriously cant remember him stopping with me before - he runs out if I dont ride properly but think only time he's ever stopped was when I held and held to the haycart at T/down first time I schooled him XC and he just ground to a halt (probably coz fence next door prevented a run-out) but I dont think he's ever done these last minute put down and slam into the fence stops. He should be feeling great having had his joint injections 2wks ago and his 3rd cartrophen on Sat evening. Not sure if the ground upset him as on the firm side and first time jumping on firm ground in the wedge pads as 2wks ago at Parwood it was on the softer side mostly although we didn't jump anything very big then so could be the fact we were doing bigger ones today and he just doesn't like jumping in the pads but then he's been fine SJ. He did some bigger jumps today fine though and the one under the rugby posts isn't big at all so bit confusing. Could be he was just tired after a long weekend and perhaps didn't sleep great in strange stable. Maybe he was just tired, thirsty and not overly keen on ground. I really dont know but panicing about entries for events now. WW is likely to be hard given no rain forecast so thinking I'll have to withdraw as too far to go for combined training - will cost £100 in diesel/start fee. That's another chance at Regionals gone. More importantly though I'm really worried about him - he does not stop - that is just so totally not him so something must be wrong. I'm wondering if these wedged pads are the right thing for him - he was managing just fine without them before this lameness episode. He is still landing really nicely heel first in them and he seems happy to dressage/SJ in them. He was fine at Hankley on Wednesday and happy to pop the small hunt jumps. No prob jumping 100cm SJ's last weekend. I just dont know what to make of it all but I dont like it one bit :( I think we are destined never to get to Badminton :( but more importantly I love that horse to pieces and I want him to be ok and dont understand what upset him enough to put down like that twice in one session. Was holding back tears speaking to the trainer afterwards but they came out walking back to lorry. Have poured my heart and soul into training that horse from the giraffe I bought and getting him to the stage where he can win after the months and months of rehab from stupid field injury and now all this. It is beyond gutting. My confidence is so fragile with jumping as well - now I'm thinking I dont trust him to jump and I'm going to be waiting for the stop as those sliding stops are not easy to sit to. Not good, not good at all.
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